Take me to the Riverside 2026

[Durhamfootman]

I have no idea if there is anything in this, but he stepped back over some disastrous personal issue (I don't know what) in order to keep out of the spotlight, but has since been looking for a way to get back into Durham in some capacity

It might be a lot of old bollox, for all I know

[captaincolly]

I don't think it was ever confirmed but around the time he stepped away there were some press reports about a police investigation involving a former England cricketer. There were strong hints as to who it was but, one way or another, he must feel able to make a comeback.

[Durhamfootman]

Gay named in the England squad for the first test. I don't know about the Lions

[captaincolly]

Gay named in the England squad for the first test. I don't know about the Lions

Interesting article by Atherton who reckons McKinney is a better prospect but - after the Ashes disaster - they are taking a more conservative approach where weight of runs counts more than potential. Atherton's view is that they 'd have gone for McKinney in the earlier Bazball years.

[Durhamfootman]

I'm tempted to think that McK's day will come and he still has a fair bit of learning to do yet

Replacing Crawley with McK feels a bit like for like, whereas Gay is a very different type of player and perhaps that's what they are looking for. The case for Rew took a hit last week when England asked Somerset to let him open and he returned scores of 0 and 4.... which means they'll probably pick him ahead of Gay

If Gay does get into the side, then he'll probably get the whole of the summer to state his case, so I reckon we'll have seen the last of him for this season.

Lets hope Will Rhodes is ready to step up at 3. I still think we had a feeling something like this was on the horizon when we signed him

[Durhamfootman]

Atherton's view is that they 'd have gone for McKinney in the earlier Bazball years.

apart from the fact that they didn't. Not even last summer which Crawley spent looking like a walking wicket

I thought they were going to. I was convinced of it, as I think we discussed at some point, but they didn't

[captaincolly]

Think it was the Ashes disaster that finally made them change track.
Agree that Gay will get the summer, Rhodes will have to fill in - at least he'll be playing in his specialist role as a top order batter as opposed to down the order.

[Durhamfootman]

Rob key accidentally let slip that Gay will open in the first test v NZ

[Durhamfootman]

Mady Villiers has been called up into England's squad for the test match v India. First time in a few years, I think

A bit of a blow for us, losing her for the final couple of dribble matches, but great for her

Filer also in the squad, but we're used to her not being available

[Durhamfootman]

Villiers played T20I's regularly from 2019 to 2021, then disappeared, to briefly reappear in a T20I/ODI series v Ireland over there in 2024

She has had a good season for us with both bat and ball, this year. Our second highest scoring bat and second highest wicket taker in the 50 over and 3rd in both disciplines in the dribble

[Durhamfootman]

Hotel

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzgx42q2xo

[captaincolly]

Seems to have been in development for ages so good that approval seems imminent.

[Durhamfootman]

It's been talked about for as long as I can remember (admittedly that isn't as long a period of time as it once was) but certainly since the early Harker years

It feels to me like we'll still be talking about it in another 10 years, so until shovels go in the ground, I'll keep on assuming that it remains a pipe dream

[captaincolly]

Agreed.